Sega Classics Hit PSN Today with Launch of PSPgo

Hello PlayStation community! My name is Julian Mehlfeld or clumsyorchid, depending on if you know me in real life or as a username in our community. I work over at Sega as a community manager and am here to discuss some PSPgo updates from Sega. Starting with the release of the PSPgo, we’re happy to announce our some of our PSP of titles are available for download on day one. We’ve got a few titles you might have missed that are worth a look, or even a second look if you’ve already played them. Below we’ve got a brief summary of the titles you’ll come across and will be taking a deeper dive on a few of them across our Sega blogs in the days to come.

Alien Syndrome
Alien Syndrome is a sequel to an old arcade game of the same name and takes place some 20 years after the original. Featuring over 80 different weapons, hundreds of armors and items, 3 difficulty modes, ad hoc multiplayer, and over 40 levels, Alien Syndrome will keep any dungeon crawler busy for a while. The game is probably best described as a top down shooter with added RPG elements.

Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars
Are you ready to make some crazy money? Crazy Taxi for PSP is actually a collection containing the original Crazy Taxi and the sequel, Crazy Taxi 2. In Fare Wars, you’ve got access to all the original crazy moves, over 30 crazy mini-games, and crazy modes you remembered from the original games. Added bonuses include a customizable soundtrack based on your own music from the memory stick and local multiplayer games in head to head battles. We’ve had some fun replaying this in the office and it’s a welcome addition to anyone that’s been looking for a Crazy Taxi fix.

Crush
I’m a huge fan of Crush and think that every PSP owner and puzzle fan should check out this game, it’s just that good. Crush uses a unique concept, taking 3D environments and “crushing” them into a 2D plane. Since the environment is in 3D, you’ll have to rotate game world to find the best places to crush and gain access to different areas of the level. Need to get atop a ledge, but can’t jump to it? Simply look top down, Crush, walk over to the ledge, unCrush and you’re where you need to be. The challenge then comes in working with the basic rules of the game – for example, some blocks you can or cannot traverse in the 2D plane, but can’t get across in 3D, or vice versa. If you missed Crush before or just want to replay it, now’s an excellent time to pick it up.

Full Auto: Battlelines
If Crazy Taxi is a bit too tame for your racing needs, Full Auto Battlelines might be the fix you need. Full Auto is all about car combat, destructible environments and an ‘unwreck’ ability that allows you to create opportunities out of mistakes. Unwreck is, like it sounds, an ability that allows you to escape a bad decision and rewind time to avoid that bad turn or unexpected hazard.

Sega Genesis Collection
If you are a Sega fan and want some game to satisfy your classic game lust, this is the title for you. The Genesis Collection features 28 games and 5 unlockables, including favorites such as Sonic 1 & 2, Phantasy Star series, Shinobi, Vectorman 1 & 2, and the Golden Axe series.

Iron Man
Based on the blockbuster, Iron Man PSP gives you the chance to head into battle as Tony Stark within the Iron Man suit. If you are familiar with the basic plot of the Iron Man movie, the game is essentially the same with a few additions, including new encounters from other Marvel villains within the Iron Man universe.

Sonic Rivals & Sonic Rivals 2
Sonic Rivals is a different take on the normal Sonic the Hedgehog experience you might be used to. Rivals is best described as racer, you compete against other characters from within the Sonic world, pick up powerups, tackle bosses, and fight to stay at the front of the pack. Bosses? Yes, there are some unique play ideas at here that have you competitively and cooperatively downing bigger enemies. On top of a solid game, you’ll also find unlockables cards that give you some insight into the past Sonic series.

Super Monkey Ball Adventure
Monkey Ball for the PSP actually comes in a different style of game than the previous series additions. You play not only Monkey Ball puzzle stages you are familiar with, but also play in larger open world areas with platforming, missions, and mini-game, hence the Adventure name.

As noted, back at the Sega Blog, we’re doing a bit of additional coverage on the PSPgo titles. Some of us are revisiting old games we enjoyed; others are picking them up for the first time. Head on over and read my write up on Crush and look for new blogs about some of our other games in the days to come.

AWESOME this is so cool. This is what Im talking about. Isnt Shemnue a Sega game? I would love to try that game for the first time . Yes there are many more titles I’d like but these are enough for the year lol. Thanks Sony…..and Sega, haha.

Thanks for all the feedback today!! It’s great getting to ask a question knowing you guys will see it. Makes me appreciate Sega more than I already did.

I know people have already asked about DC games, but I’d like to add my vote to Space Channel 5, Chu Chu Rocket, and the sonic adventure games.

Another concern I have is about pricing. I work at a game store and I’m having a hard time understanding why I have to pay the same (if not more in some cases) for the umd as the digital copy. With buying a physical copy, I am paying for the shipping cost, the disc, the box, the book, the artwork, and then the split royalties for the developer and retailer. With a digital copy, I should obviosly pay less because I’m getting less. I understand you guys are excited about making more money, but why shaft the consumer?

Crush looks awesome; I’d buy this immediately if there was a PS3 download for it that took advantage of the PS3 hardware’s capabilities.

And a note to Sega: if I wanted to play straight-up emulations, I’d boot into Linux. If you want my money, you’ll need to re-do the artwork to 1080p and the audio to be lossless (like Super Street Fighter II HD, Monkey Island: Special Edition, Bionic Commando Rearmed, etc). To this end, I suggest Altered Beast, VectorMan, and Ecco get the HD remix treatment.

PS: My husband and I *loved* Sonic Unleashed on PS3 (infantily “story” aside). We’d love to see a truly next-gen sequel that isn’t just an up-port from PS2/Wii for the next one!

I\’m already pushing for this, but don\’t have anything I can pass out beyond that. We\’re big into the Phantasy Star series internally (I\’ve been working on the series for over 5 years now), and we want to get the game into more hands. PS: Portable is a fantastic game.

I’m loving Sega these days. Easily up there in my top 10 favorite game companies. Well I actually don’t have a list or anything but I love most of your offerings and the future Sega games looks really cool (Alpha Protocol and Bayonetta to name two, please do the ports justice though). Already have Full Auto 2 and Valkyria Chronicles on PS3.

Anyway, haven’t gotten a PSP yet but just wanted to show you guys (Sega) some love. You guys are definitately getting better each day compared to other big publishers. I really hope other companies are inspired by your work.

Please make Sega classics downloadable on PS3. Please remix them into HD. I grew up with Sega, HD redeuxs of their classic and beloved games is such a no-brainer, I cannot fathom why it isn’t being done.

I’d like to recommend Phantasy Star Portable. It came out around the time the PSPgo was announced. At that time I skipped out on getting the UMD version in hopes of having a downloadable version. I’m still hoping that downloadable version will be released soon.

Hello Julian. I’m a PSP Slim owner and I got Crush and Crazy Taxi on UMD… But this month I’ll get the PSP Go and I’d like to download these games. How can I download them without paying for it again? I read that SCEE is offering a promotion to download some games with no cost while the UMD game is inserted in the PSP. Cheers and waiting for your reply!

Dude!! i love sega, Valkyria Chronicles is already one of my favourite PS3 games , Phantasy Star Portable 2 is going to be awesome, i made a “Viking” video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlRPwZjZAjA
i have all crazy taxi games, i have also over 50 Genesis games , i cant wait for Needlemouse! , and i wish the rummored jet set radio is true, and love Skies of Arcadia (where is my sequel!!) i just LOVE SEGA xD

I may be one of the few that requests this but I would love to see eternal champions come to the psp. Sadly i don’t recall if that was a first party sega game or not.
crispy was one of the best fighting charters ever…..

Nice, I like the Sega updates I seen in the PS Store today. I picked up Sonic Rivals, and although I have Sonic Rivals 2 on UMD, I’m liking the first Rivals more. I’ll probably grab the Genesis collection next. Like many people here, I also hope to see Phantasy Star Portable for download in the PS Store soon.